The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-29
OBITUARY..
General James Speed.

LOUISVILLE, June 25.-General James
SIeed, whose serious illness was announced
in these dispatches several weeks ago. died
at 3:l5 a. m, at his home in this county
For year past he had suffered much from
general debility.
James Speed was born in jefferson
County, Kentucky, near Louisville, March
II, 1872. He IVES the oldest OF a large
family. His father was Judge John Spe d,
who came to Kentucky from Virginia in
1888. His mother was Lucy G.. Fry,
daughter Of Joshua Fry. She also came
from Virginia about 1898. James received
the rudlments of his education in the
county school, and afterwsrd at S.
Josenh's College, at Bsrdstown, where be
was graduated at the age Of sixteen. The
next two years of his life were passed in
the Office of the clerk of the Jefferson
County Court, writing. He then at
tended lectures ut the law school
of Pennsylvania University at Laxng-
ton. In 1888 he opened an Office for
practice in Louisville, and, with one
exception, was the oldest practitioner
of standing IN Louisville. His life was
spent in the practice of law almost exclu-
sively, his public life having only added to
his reputation without diyerting him from
his profession. In 1917 he was elected to
the lower house OF the State Legislature.
In lS49 be was candidate of the Emancl-
patton party for delegate TO the State con.
vention- From 1856 TO 1858 he WAS pro-
lessor in the law department in the L nj
veTsity OF Louisville. When the war broke
out his action was decided and prompt in
behalf OF the Union. lie was made muster
ing officer for Kentucky under President
Lincoln and raised IS, 900 men. 10 the first
year of the war he was elected to the State
Senate and served two years. In 1864 he
r-ao oollad 10 fba 10 b;nat ~ Dror,dovk =,
coin as Attorney-General. His services to
the country at this time were OF great value
and gave him a wide and honorable
reputation. He remained in this high OF
flee until July, 1866 when be resigned,
owing 10 his views in regard to the policy
of Andrew johnson, then President The
same year be was president of the South
ern Unionist Convention, which assembled
in Philadelphia to protest against the
policy of Johnson in dealing with South
ern questions. While he was still
Attorney-General the trials of the
persons accused of the murder Of Presi-
dent Lincoln were brought about. Presi-
dent Johnson, before ordering the trials,
applied TO Mr.. Speed for his opinion as TO
whether such persons were subject TO the
jurisdiction and legally liable before 3
military commission. Mr. Speed gave his
opinion that they were so liable, and in
july OF 1000 the IS6SOQ IOT LQaL opinion
was given in letter to the President. JEFF
ferson Davis, having been captured by the
military forces was kept in custody at
Fortress Monroe as prisoner OF
the military authorities, although sub
lect to the order of the civil
courts. In September, 1865, the Senate of
the United States called upon the Presi-
dent for Information on the subject of
Mr.. Davis trial. IN response to this Ieso-
luton the Attorney General submitted
report and entered into an argument to
show that, although originally captured
by the military, Jefferson Davis, after
cessation of hostilities was subject to
trial only by the civil courts. In 1865 he
was q delegate from Kentucky to the ma
tional convention which nominated Grant
for the presidency. In 1875 he was again
made professor of the law department of
the University OF Louisville, position he
continued to fill until 1879 Mr.. Speed
was married in 1910 to Miss Jane Cochran,
a daughter of John Cochran, Scotchman
who went to Louisville in 1888. They
had seven sons, five of whom are still
living. He was always q warm advocate Of
equal rights to all, and his influence in
shaping the legislation of the country TO
this end was sensibly felt in the trouble
some times Immediately following the
war